MANILA — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on Tuesday the arrest of Ronnie Dayan, the former lover and alleged driver-bagman of Senator Leila de Lima will give Dayan a chance to clean his name from allegations and help in uncovering the truth behind the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

Aguirre made the statement, noting that Dayan can provide information on the drug cases filed against him and his also former boss.

“His capture will tie up the loose ends and supply the missing links in the cases before the DOJ. It is also a chance for Mr. Dayan to clear his name so we encourage him to tell the whole truth of what he know,” Aguirre told DOJ reporters.

Police arrested Dayan before noon on Tuesday at Sitio Turod, Barangay San Felipe in San Juan, La Union.

An arrest warrant was issued against Dayan after he failed to appear in a House inquiry on the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the national penitentiary.

During the House probe, the high-profile inmates testified that on De Lima’s stint as DOJ Secretary, Dayan served as her collector of the drug money raised by inmates for her senatorial campaign.

Dayan also faces drug raps at the DOJ filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), former NBI deputy directors Ruel Lasala and Reynaldo Esmeralda and high profile New Bilibid Prison inmate Jaybee Sebastian.

The complaints stemmed from De Lima’s alleged involvement in the proliferation of the illegal drugs trade at the national penitentiary.

Aside from De Lima and Dayan, several former government officials and high-profile NBP inmates are also facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) for allegedly conniving with De Lima in connection to the said activity inside the NBP.

Dayan has not been seen in his residence in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan since President Duterte tagged him as De Lima’s lover. Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA-northboundasia.com